Medina County Community Fund awards $25,750 to local nonprofits

The Medina County Community Fund of Akron Community Foundation recently awarded 11 grants totaling $25,750 to nonprofit organizations that improve the lives of Medina County residents. The grants were announced on Thursday, June 16, at the fund’s annual Spring into Summer event.

Since its inception in 1993, the Medina County Community Fund has awarded nearly 200 grants totaling $499,831 to organizations that serve residents of Medina County.

This year, the majority of the amount awarded went to programs that help meet residents’ basic needs, including transportation, clothing, food and health care. A $5,000 grant to Medina Health Ministry will support a new program for underinsured individuals whose high health insurance deductibles prevent them from accessing medical care. The agency developed the program in response to the growing number of residents who, despite having health insurance, are still going without needed care because of their inability to pay.

“They are using the emergency room for basic medical problems that have turned into major problems because of the lack of treatment,” said Tonya Martin, clinical coordinator at Medina Health Ministry. “(This grant) will help patients obtain the care they need and deserve.”

Funding from the Medina County Community Fund will allow underinsured Medina County residents to receive annual laboratory testing at no cost, as well as free medical examinations and prescriptions.

“This is the type of request that our committee loves – a well-focused, grass-roots program that can impact scores of families in Medina County,” said Terry Pfleiderer, chair of the fund’s Grants Committee. “Add the Medina Health Ministry’s well-earned reputation for excellence, and we had unanimous support for the proposal.”

Other grants this year will provide transportation to medical appointments for elderly and disabled residents, purchase socks and underwear for families in need, and enrich the community through free performances and art programs, among other projects.

The following is a full list of grants awarded in 2016:

Faith in Action Medina County Caregivers, to provide free transportation to and from medical appointments for elderly and disabled Medina County residents, $4,000

Feeding Medina County, to provide healthy food for elderly and disabled Medina County residents living in low-income housing, $2,500

Marian’s Closet, to purchase new socks and underwear for Medina County families in need, $1,550

Matthew 25 Coalition, to provide fuel and auto repair vouchers to impoverished residents in rural areas of Medina County who need transportation to their jobs, school or medical appointments, $4,000

Medina Community Police Activity League, for monthly dinners and summer school lunches that build trust between police officers and youth, $1,500

Medina County Arts Council Inc., to support free performances and arts programs throughout Medina County as part of the 2016 Arts Week Festival, $1,200

Medina Health Ministry, to provide free laboratory testing for underinsured Medina County residents who cannot afford to pay their health insurance deductibles, $5,000

ORMACO Inc., for the Jazz Under the Stars free concert series in Medina’s public square, $1,000

Rebuilding Together Northeast Ohio, to purchase materials for home repairs and safety modifications for low-income, elderly, disabled and veteran homeowners in Medina County, $1,500

RePlay for Kids, to provide adapted toys to low-income families with children with disabilities in Medina County, $1,000

Society for Handicapped Citizens of Medina County Inc., to loan home medical equipment to residents recovering from surgery, accidents or an illness, $2,500

About the Medina County Community Fund

The Medina County Community Fund, an affiliate fund of Akron Community Foundation, serves as a permanent philanthropic endowment for Medina County. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Medina County residents, now and in the future. The income from this fund is distributed annually to qualified nonprofit organizations that provide a wide range of cultural, educational, health and community services. To date, the fund has grown to more than $710,000 and awarded nearly $500,000 in grants. For more information, or to contribute to the Medina County Community Fund, visit www.akroncf.org/MCCF.

About Akron Community Foundation

Celebrating 61 years of building community philanthropy, Akron Community Foundation embraces and enhances the work of charitable people who make a permanent commitment to the good of the community. In 1955, a $1 million bequest from the estate of Edwin Shaw established the community foundation. As of March 31, 2016, it is a philanthropic endowment of more than $182 million with a growing family of nearly 530 funds established by charitable people and organizations from all walks of life. The community foundation and its funds welcome gifts of all kinds, including cash, bequests, stock, real estate, life insurance and retirement assets, just to name a few. To date, the community foundation’s funds have awarded more than $130 million in grants to qualified nonprofit organizations. For more information about Akron Community Foundation or to learn more about creating your own charitable fund, call 330-376-8522 or visit www.akroncf.org.